Mail-bag lock



June 29 192s. 1,590,258

R.- L. SHANNON i MAIL BAG LOCK Filed Dec. 15, 1924.-v

ATTORNEYS Patented .lune 29, 19265.

unirsi) STATES Aran erstes.

ROBERT.1` LOW'IE` SHANNON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BAG noci;

Application filed-December 15, 1924. Serial No. 756,032.

ofthe mail bag and, at the same time, for

it prevents picking of the lock, this sanie means also being adapted to actuate the rope engaging1 dogs, and further act as a ,ey v

guide for the A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is so designed that the standard keys now used by the `mail clerks in unlocking the pad'locks used in` connection with the mail bags may be used in the present lock.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described iny which aflug is provided with notches for permitting only a certain key having pro- `iections corresponding with the notches, to

be used" in the lock. The lugl is strong and durable and may have different notches cut therein whereby any number of locks may be provided, each being opened by a diierent key.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type' describedwhich is simple in construction, durable, andl elfi-` cient for the purpose intended, and which is not likely to get out of order easily.

Other objects and advantages lwill appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will appear inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device,

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, i n

Figure 3 isa side elevation of the device,

Figure 4 is a section alongy the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention I provide a lock which comprises' two castings A and B that `are adapted to be connected to each other `by connecting'means such as pins or the like, so as to form a passageway through which the ropes 2 of the mail bag (not Y shown) are adapted to be passed. The ropes 2 are adapted to pass through an opening 3 in the lock and then around a rope engaging means 4 over rope engaging dogs 5, thence through a passageway 6 formed by a partition 7, and then out through an opening 8. v

I will first describe how the rope engaging dogs 5 are adapted to bind the ropes-2 against the rope engaging means such as pins 4, whereby a movement of the ropes in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig ure 2 is prevented. The dogsV 5 are spring pressed by Vmeans of springs 9 and are' adapted to swing so as to forcethe ropes up against the pins 4. It should be noted that there are two dogs provided and that eachofthe dogs has a groove 10 through which the rope that it engages is adapted to pass.

The dogsare'serrated at 11 and this serrated' portion is adapted to engage with the rope when the 'dogs are swung so as to Vbind the rope against the pin 4. I have found that it is cheaper to cast the pins 4 withthe parts A and B, but it isvobvious that the pins may be separated from the casting and be securedfthereto.` The pins 4 are also serrated at` 1,2 and engage with the rope when thev rope is moved thereagainst by'means of a dog 5. The dogs 5 are rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 13 which in turn is carried by theV lock.

The means for swinging the dogs 5 so as todisengage the dogs from the ropes comprises a U-shaped sleeve 14 which has a disc-shaped end 15, (see Figures 4 and 5) .that is rotatably mounted upon the key receiving pin 16. Thefkey is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5`and in the present instance has a bore 17 therein which receives the pin 16. If it is desired to use a solid key, the pin 16 could be done awayy with. The wall 18 of the casting B is provided with an opening 19 through which the semi-circular portion 2O of the sleeve 14v eX- tends. The semi-circular portion 2O actsas a bearing for the sleeve 14 and permits the sleeve to be readily rotated in the opening and about the pin 16. The opening 19 has a recess 21 therein which is adapted to receive the tumbler engaging part 22 of the key 23.

It will be noted fronrFigures 2 and 4 that the sleeve 14 has a projection 24 that is adapted to engage with the dogs Ato swing the latter into inoperativefposition. The pin 25 limits'the movement ot the sleeve 14. t will further be noted from Figure 2 that the sleeve is normally held as shown in this ligure by means of a retaining means such as a leaf spring 26. In the present instance the spring26 is provided with anV indentation 27 that receives the projection 24. VThe spring has to be flexed invorder to permit the sleeve 14 to be rotated. The spring 26 is passed arounda pin 28 and has f its end29 secured beneath a lug 30 which is carried by the casting A. A second lug 31, (see Figure 4) is carried by the casting B and bears against the end of the lugzso as to prevent movement of the end 29 with respect to the lug. The end 29 is bentk upwardly so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the spring 26.

In Figure 2 I have shown a lug 32 which is carried by the casing A and whichhas its free end cut in the manner shown at 33 (see'Figure 5). The cuts on the portion 22 of the key must correspond with the cuts in the lug 32 in order :tor the key to pass by the lug and to actuate the sleeve l14. As shown in Figure 3 the lug 32 is positioned adjacent to the recess 21 and thus prevents the key from rotation if the key is not yprovided with the desired cuts. The lug 32 not only-prevents the key from rotation if it is not the right one, but also bears against the sleeve 14 and stops the sleeve from rotating in a counter clock-wise direction when looking at Figure 2.

The sleeve 14 is also provided with an extended portion 34 that protectsfthe dogs 5 and prevents aperson from picking the lock.

It will be noted from Figure .5 that the projection 34 is disposed in the casting A and that the projection is cut away at 35 so as to permit the sleeve to pass the lug 32. It will therefore be seen that the sleeve 14 has a triple function in thatk it prevents access to the dogs 5 whereby the dogs can only be moved by a certain key, it acts as a guide Jor the key 23, and also as a dog actuating means. 'The projection 22 of the key is not large enought to engage with both dogs. Therefore it is necessary to provide a projection 24 on the sleeve 14. Ihis projection engages with both dogs simultaneously and swings the dogs into inoperative position. Furthermore, the projection 24 en- 'gaging with the dogs instead of the key engaging with the dogs as is the case in myco-pending. application provides a con struction which gives a longer life to the key.y A still further advantage in this oonstruction lies in the Jfact that the standard mail bag key may be used with this lock.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, 'the operation thereof may be readily understood. A partition 35 extends from the end oi' the partition 6 to a point adjacent to the opening 3 and provides a passageway for each of the ropes 2.. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the ropes 2 may be pulled` in a direction reverse to that shown by the arrow and in doing so the ropes will merely swing the dogs 5 against the tension of the springs 9. As soon, however, as the ropes are pulled in the direction-shown by the arrow in-Figure 2, the springs 9v will cause the dogs 5 to swing so as to clamp the ropes against the serrated .port-ions 12 of ythe pins 4. The dogs in swinging will also bring the serrated portions 11 in engagement with the ropes 2. Invthis `way the lock provides a novel means or permitting theropes to be tightened at any time so as to close up the opening vin the mail sack but at the same time prevent the ropes from being moved in the reverse direction Y When it is desired to release the ropes 2 from Ythe lock, the key is inserted in the opening 19 and is turned so as to rotate the sleeve 14 andcause the sleeve to swing the dogs 5 into inoperative position. As heretofore stated, the lug 32 prevents anyrotation of the key unless the key is the one Vto be used. The spring 26 normally holds the sleeve 14 in the position shown in Figure 2 and it will therefore be seen `that the sleeve cannot rotate into a position to obstruct the recess 21. -The device is extremely simple in construction and has been designed to be manufactured at a slight cost. Figioo ure 3 shows the approximate size of the device whilerFigures 1,42, 4, and 5 have been enlarged so as to clearly illustrate the construction and operationA of the device. It will therefore be seen that the device is compact in structure and occupies no more room than does the standard clamp now employed on mail bags. y If desired, the top of the device may be provided with a channel 36 in which a. Vdestination card may be inserted. j

The partition 501 is disposed at right angles to the partition 7 and extends from the inner end of the partition to the opening 3. The partition 50 separates the dogs 5 and also provides means for guiding the ropes over the dogs and for preventing the ropes from becoming twistedwhile in the lock.

I claim 1. A mail bag lock -'comprising' a casing, l

for receiving ropes,means for engaging with the ropes to permit movement of the ropes 1n only one direction, and key actuated means for moving said rope engaging means into inoperative position, said key actuated means preventing access to said rope engaging means, thus preventing the lock from being picked.

2. A mail bag lock comprising a casing for receiving ropes, means for engaging with the ropes to permit movement of the ropes in only one direction, and key actuated means for moving said rope engaging means into inoperative position, said key actuated means preventing access to said rope engaging means, thus preventing the lock from being picked, said key actuated means also acting as a guide for the key.

3. In a mail bag lock, rope engaging means, and a key actuated means for moving said rope engaging means into inoperative position and for holding said means against return movement, said key actuated means preventing access to said rope engaging means, thus preventing the lock from being picked.

et. In a mail bag lock, rope engaging means, and a key actuated means for moving said rope engaging means into inoperative position, and for holding said means against return movement, said key actuated means also acting as a guide for the key.

5. In a mail bag lock, .rope engaging.v

means, and a key actuated means for moving saidrope engaging means into. inoperative position, and for holding.V said means against return movement, said key actuated means preventing access `to said rope engaging means,vthus preventing the lock fromV memI of the ropes in one direction, and key actuated means for moving said rope engaging means into inoperative position, and means for yieldingly holding said key actuated means in alignment With said openin ROBERT LOVE SHANNON. 

